N.Z. PENSIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1936, Page 6

N.Z. PENSIONS

DEPARTMENT 5 S BIJS Y TIME

Per Press Association Copyright

CHRISTCHURCH,.November 9

Since the passing'by Parliament of the Pensions Act on September 4, new pensions have been granted as follows :—Old age 2423, widows’ and deserted wives’ 156, invalidity 1079, total 3658. tV;.;: .

In giving these figures to-day, .the Minister of Pensions (the Hon W. K. Parry); said the'pensions legislation, particularly where'it embraced the new clauses of pensions, and added bone-. fits to pensioners, brought an enormous amount of additional work to the officers bf “The; men and women of the staff operating / , through-out the different centres,” ,said the Minister, “are still hard pressed in dealing with an almost constant rush oT* applications. There •must b e a little delay in reaching finality in some cases of those requiring jniunh inquiry, the claimants can accept ,mv .assurance that the .delay is unavoidable” *' •■■•< V.

Sdnimarising the pension claims made three months before the passing of the legislation,:; the Minister gave an illuminating return

The number of old a<re and widows’ claims-’received during the three months prior to the Act' 1 coming into operation was as 'folloWSJune,' old age 765, widows’ 78. *Tuly, old age 753, widows’ 104. August, old age 1281, widows’ 89.

There Was no - doubt, said tlic Minister, that 'the claims of August included a number, made in anticipation of the legislation. The number of pension claims received throughout the Dominion by the Pensions Amendment Act was;—Old ; age 3248, widows’ and deserted wives 388, invalidity 5009. total 8645. The returns for October were not yet complete, but the claims already notified to the head office of the Pension Department had totalled 3790, made, up as follows Old age 2495, widows’ and resorted wives’. 295, invalidity . 1000, total 3790.